MCGEE
Recorded variant spellings include Mc Gee, Mcgee
The surname McGee originates from the Gaelic-speaking regions of the British Isles, specifically within the country of Ireland, where it has been used for many centuries. Its linguistic roots are firmly Celtic, and it adheres to the patronymic tradition of forming a family name by means of a parent’s personal name. The name has traditionally been associated with Christian communities, reflecting the religious milieu of medieval Ireland.
In the Gaelic language, the surname is derived from Mac Aodha, which literally means “son of Aodh.” The personal name Aodh translates to “fire” or “fiery,” and was also historically the name of a pre-Christian deity associated with flame. Thus, the surname McGee indicates descent from an ancestor bearing that name and conveys an association with the elemental power of fire in the family’s lore.
Throughout history the spelling of the name has varied, with documented forms including Magee, MacGee, Mc Gee, MacGhee, McGoey, McGahy, Mogey, Moggy, Moggie, and MacGhie. The earliest recorded bearer, Teag MacGee, was a chief of a sept in County Westmeath; his name appears in documents dated around 1000 A.D., during the reign of King Brian Boru, High King of Ireland. Later records from the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries mention individuals such as Gilmighel MacEthe of Dumfries, who was required to render homage to King Edward Ist of England in 1296, and Michael MacGhethe, a juror listed in an annexation at Annandale in 1304. Further attestations include Michael Magy in Orkney in 1424, Agnis Muggye, who married at Templemore, Derry, in 1649, and Alexander Moggy, christened at Ballymoney, Antrim, on 20 October 1831.
The name also appears in the Manx and Scottish contexts, indicating a broader distribution beyond Ireland. In Ireland, bearers of the surname were predominantly located in Ulster, with territory extending across the borders of counties Donegal and Tyrone. A notable geographic reference is Island Magee, situated on the eastern side of Lough Larne in County Antrim, which derived its name from the surname and serves as evidence of the family’s historical landholdings in the area.
In contemporary times the surname McGee remains common throughout Ireland and persists amongst communities of Irish diaspora wherein the name continues to signify a lineage tracing back to an ancestor named Aodh, embodying the heritage of a fiery name carried forward over many generations.
Typical given names associated with the McGee surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Patrick
- Paul
- Robert
- Thomas
Female
- Alison
- Catherine
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Karen
- Kathleen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Pauline
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname McGee in...
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There are approximately 7,786 people named McGee in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,207th most common surname in Britain. Around 120 in a million people in Britain are named McGee.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Ireland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named McGee
- Patrick George McGee - Northern Irish actor (1922 to 1982)
- Debbie McGee - Television, radio and stage performer
- Alan McGee - Businessman and journalist
- Brian McGee - Musician
- Luke McGee - Football player
- Brian McGee -
- Owen McGee - Football player
- Joe McGee - Football player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.